Fallen Long Beach soldier laid to rest

Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson, 26, died from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations in Afghanistan on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (U.S. Army Special Operations Command)

October 26, 2012 12:00:00 AM PDT

LONG BEACH, Calif. --

A U.S. soldier, from Long Beach, Calif. was laid to rest on Friday. Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in Afghanistan.

Family, friends, and a large contingent of Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, including his father Deputy Troy MacPherson, gathered to celebrate the 26-year-old's life in Los Alamitos.

MacPherson was killed earlier this month from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. MacPherson was serving as a mortarman and team leader in the Andar district at the time of his death.

The honorable soldier was posthumously awarded the bronze star and purple heart.

MacPherson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The Los Alamitos High School graduate had previously served in Iraq shortly after enlisting in the Army in 2007.